DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- John Taylor, President and CEO of Spyryx Biosciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics to address severe lung diseases, provided an update on the Company's progress in the investigation of its lead drug candidate during a presentation on Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the Jefferies Cystic Fibrosis Summit in New York, New York.

SPX-101 is a SPLUNC1-derived peptide that restores a natural pathway in the human lung that plays an important role in regulating airway surface liquid and mucociliary clearance which are dysfunctional in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), but important for mobilizing mucus and removing bacteria and foreign particles out of the lungs.

During the presentation, Mr. Taylor provided an update on the development progress and results for the SPX-101 program, including preclinical data in multiple animal models demonstrating SPX-101's robust ability to restore mucociliary clearance. He also provided an update on the clinical development for SPX-101, currently undergoing initial safety testing in a Phase I clinical trial.

SPX-101 is an inhaled peptide therapeutic designed to act as a mimetic of the SPLUNC1 protein's binding domain responsible for regulating the activity of epithelial sodium channels. This regulatory pathway, used naturally by the lung to modulate airway fluid volumes and promote mucociliary clearance, was discovered by Spyryx founder, Dr. Robert Tarran of the University of North Carolina. Dr. Tarran's research demonstrates that SPLUNC1's regulation of sodium channels in patients with CF is dysfunctional due to a structural change resulting from the low pH environment of the CF lung, which renders SPLUNC1 unable to interact with the sodium channels. This results in hyperabsorption of sodium and subsequently water being drawn away from the airway surface and stalling the natural clearance mechanism that normally mobilizes mucus to remove embedded bacteria and foreign particles from the lung.

SPX-101 replaces SPLUNC1's function and restores this control mechanism, promoting proper hydration of the airway surface and restarting mucus clearance. The mechanism of action of SPX-101 is independent of the genetic mutations that cause cystic fibrosis, and therefore has the potential to provide disease-modifying therapy to all cystic fibrosis patients.

Spyryx received a development award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2015 to support the development of SPX-101.

About Spyryx Biosciences Spyryx Biosciences is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics to address severe lung diseases. Spyryx's lead clinical candidate, SPX-101, is a novel treatment for cystic fibrosis that is currently completing a Phase 1 safety study. The product has demonstrated a robust ability to restore mucociliary clearance in animal models of the disease and has the potential to improve lung function in cystic fibrosis patients independent of their genotype. The Spyryx leadership team and scientific staff have extensive experience in the development of respiratory medicines and work closely with a broad group of clinical and scientific experts in the pulmonary field. Spyryx is funded by a first tier syndicate of life science investors, including Canaan Partners, 5AM Ventures and Hatteras Venture Partners. Further information regarding Spyryx Biosciences is available at www.spyryxbio.com.

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